Shoring



J. R. BULLIS Dec. 13, 1932.

SHORING Filed Dec. 50, 1930 gm w, WM 0 HHIHMHH m .6 5 i W .0? w o 7 o F4 m a F 7 6 a m 4 1 m 2&2 f J. m M.) PM ll wig L .H 1 m I: F v w A Z; M m w Aw Patented Dec. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES JOHN R. BULLIS, OF SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND SHORING Application filed December 30, 1930. Serial No. 505,637.

This invention relates to an improvement in shoring, and more particularly to adjustable shoring wherein two pieces of timber or struts are employed for adapting the shoring to different elevations.

The present invention resides in a clamp for the struts'or timbers of the shoring for adjustably connecting them together at different elevations, and whereby various or definite adjustments may be made. The clamp consists of two plates or jaws pivotally connected together by means'of parallel links for holding them in spaced relation. One of the plates is preferably connected rigidly near the top or end of one of the timbers or struts; while the other plate or jaw is provided on its inner surface with a toothed or corrugated surface for gripping a face or side of the other strut which overlaps the first strut to maintain the two struts or timbers in proper relationaccordin g to the elevation they are to assume.

The movable jaw is maintained in a rigid relation with'respect to the second strut by 5 means of a wedge interposed between the strut and a strap rigidly attached to the rigid jaw of the clamp. This wedge, therefore, performs the function of insuring the movable j aw being held against displacement and immovable until the wedge is released.

The invention consists of certain novel features of construction, and combination of parts which will be hereinafter described and .set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in edge elevation;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4: is a similar View on line 41 of Fig. 1.

The shoring in this instance is preferably composed of two strips of timber or struts 10-11, which may be of any size suitable for the purpose intended. The shoring is particularly adaptable in concrete construction for holding the necessary forms in forming the flooring or ceiling of a. building, and, of

course, may be utilized for various other purposes such as scafl'olding or where shoring might be employed.

The clamp consists of two plates or jaws 12 and 13, adapted to be used in connection with the shoring and are pivotally connected together by means of parallel links 14-14, journalled on trunnions 15 formed on the jaws 12 and 13, and held in place by means of cotter pins or other fastenings 16.

The 'aws 12 and 13 are preferably made in the form of a channel or U-shaped, so that the flanges will engage the sides of the struts 10 and 11, and the jaw 12 is rigidly attached to the strut or timber 10 by means of bolts 17 passing through the flanges of the jaw and through the timber 10; while the other jaw 13 will engage three faces or sides of the opposite and overlapping strut 11 and hold it against the strut 10. This is accomplished by the movable jaw 13 automatically dropping or swinging downwardly into a plane below the stationary or fixed jaw 12. This movement of the jaw 13 is, in a measure, accomplished by the strut or timber 11 dropping under its own weight and carrying the jaw with it until the jaw has firmly gripped the strut causing it to be pressed snugly and firmly against the other strut, 10.

Now, to insure the two timbers or struts being held in this position and against any possible displacement, a strap in the form of a U has the free ends of its arms 18-18 rigidly attached by bolts or rivets 19 to the flange of the jaw 12, so that this strap encompasses the two struts and movable jaw 13. The cross member 20 of the strap, which is preferably integrally connected to the arms 18, is provided with an upwardly in clined face 21. Interposed between the movable jaw 13 and the inclined face 21 is a tapered wedge 22 which has an outwardly extending lug or projection 23 at its lower end, preventing its removal from between the jaw 13 and the cross member 20 when the clamp is in engagement with the two struts or timbers l0 and 11. When the movable jaw has been set into position for holding the struts at their proper elevation, the wedge is driven downwardly between the outer face of the jaw 13 and the face 21 of 100 wardly.

Now, in instances where the shoring has been setup for supporting formwork in the erection of a" floor of a building, the adjustment of the shoring, or some of the shoring, employed, may not be of the required height, and, therefore, the strut 11 must be elevated, so that it will give the needed or necessary support to the formwork. This is acco m-' plished by means of a jack, oneform of WlIICh,

is indicated at 24 in the'drawing, which may beapplied to the strut 10, and by swinging the lever into engagement with the lower end of the strut ll, it will be elevated. However, before thisstrut 11 is elevated, the movable jaw of the clamp must be released, and this is accomplished by simply disengaging the wedge sufficiently to allow the jaw 13 andstrut .11 to be elevated, and upon the shore reaching the elevation required, a slight tap of a ham-'. mer is-applied-to the movable jaw 13, whereupon it will-be.forceddownwardly and grip the strut .lllandpress it;against the strut 10 and secure the two strutsptogether; The we e: 22 is given'asimilar tapwith a. hammer for confining or forcing the jaw more firmly into engagement with the strut 11. From the foregoing it will be apparent that this clamp may be used in connection with shoring and the two struts quickly joined together at various elevations, and in ordlnary adjustments a slight movement of the strut 11 with: respect to the shore 10 will cause the movable .jaw 13 to travel with the shore 11, causing the-two shores to be securely locked in overlapped relation, and to maintain these elements in this position, the wedge 22 is forced between the movable jaw 13 and strap to firmly hold the struts in place. It is to be noted, that in obtaining this clamping or joining of the two struts together, that the linkage between the two jaws 12 and 13 is such that the movable jaw has a free and pivotal movement with respect to the stationary jaw 12, and the movable jaw 13 is of suificient weight that it automatically falls below the fixed position of the stationary jaw, and, therefore, when the strut that is to be joined to the other strut is" allowed to move downwardly with respect to the stationary j aw 12, the movable jaw 13 will automatically travel with the strut 11, and by means of the links 14, the jaw will be constantly pulled inwardly against the moving strut and bind it more closely to the other strut until the two are firmly locked together.

lVhen it is desirable to separate the shores in obtaining another adjustment, upon releas ing the wedge 22 of the clamp, the jaw 13 and strut 11 can be pulled upwardly until {min s 91f], uroa Amie p eq eq use 31 are? eqo,

wardly to again grip thestrut 11, and by givingit a blow with a hammer, it will again securely bind the strut 11 to the strut 10, and

then. the wedge. 22 can again be driven into position for locking the strut and jaw against movement. v

A strap or guide 25 is attachedto the lower end of the strut 11 and encircles the strut 10 for insuring the guiding and maintaining of the struts in proper overlapped relation;

. WVhat I claim is i 1. A clamp, consistingof two jaws,.links pivotally connecting thej aws together,astrap connected to one of the jaws andencompassing the other j,aw,-and means interposed be.- tween the strap and encompassed jaw for holding the jaws iii-engagement with a supporting member confined therebetweenrj 2. The combination? of two members arranged in. overlapped relation, aclamp con sistingof two jaws, one of which is rigidly attached to one of the members, and the other jaw havingengagement with the other mem+ ber, links pivotally connecting the two-jaws together and permitting one of the jaws to swing into'engagementwith a member for fastening the two members together between the jaws, a. strap connected to the rigid-jaw and encompassing the members and other jaw, and a wedge interposed between the strap and. last mentioned jaw for holding the jaw against movement.

JOHN R. BULLIS. 

